Mollify (6 page)

Chapter 6

Megan

Walking out of class I stare at the text message trying to bury the anxiety.

Marcus: It’s not over between us until I say Megan.

“Fatal attraction much?” My best friend, Olivia grunts over my shoulder.

“I don’t know what to do Liv. I’ve broken up with him now more than once and he refuses to accept it.”

“Creepy,” she says under her breath as we head down the sidewalk in the direction of my car parked in the parking garage. “And that’s me ignoring the fact that he hits you.”

“Liv,” I hush her.

Tossing her black wavy hair over her shoulder she rolls her eyes. “I’m not afraid to be heard by his minions. Let them fucking hear me!” She shouts and I tug her arm so her body is closer to mine. “He should be thankful I didn’t know sooner. I vote we let my bigger brother Mario handle him.”

“No,” my denial is quick. “It’s my problem. I’ll deal with it.” Under my breath I mutter, “Somehow.”

I know the only way to be safe from him is to get the fuck out of that apartment, but even then, he can find me. I have so little in my own name. No car. No bank account. No apartment. All because he insisted on it being that way.

“Oh no you don’t,” Liv interrupts my thoughts. “Don’t use that whole ‘I don’t have anything’ as an excuse to postpone getting the fuck out of that apartment any longer.”

Can she hear us?

“We’re gonna start moving your shit out and into my spare room, just like we’ve been planning. You’ve been stashing a little cash here and there and we’ll figure out the rest later. You have to get completely out of that situation, away from him, before he kills you Megan.”

“That’s a bit of a stretch isn’t it?”

“Is it?” Liv stops walking. “Your face. Your neck. The one time down the stairs. You tell me where it’s gonna stop at this rate.”

Don’t agree with her!

“Can we go get some frozen yogurt?” My change in subject causes her to lower her eyes to a glare.

I really need a cookie...

“Usted puede llevar una vaca al agua pero no puede hacer que beben.”

“Don’t do that.” I shake my head at her. “Don’t go all Tex-Mex on me.”

“That’s food. What you want is Spanglish.”

“What I want is frozen yogurt and a giant cookie,” my correction has her tossing her head back in laughter.

“Fine. Frozen yogurt and then we start moving shit out of that apartment. Deal?”

I’d make a deal with the devil for the right kind of cookies. Why do you smirk at me when I talk about food like that?

“Deal,” my unsure whisper is followed by me looking at the new text from Marcus.

Marcus: I’ve warned you once Megan. The next time I won’t be so nice.

Clicking away the message before it can be seen, I push my phone in my shoulder bag and stroll past the parking garage for the little local place that serves the best frozen yogurt close to campus.

Liv tells me about her history teacher she has the hots for, describing his attire and his Irish accent, down to what she imagines it sounds like in bed, the entire time doing a great job demolishing the knot of fear that’s gathered in my stomach.

A couple steps in front of the shop, I hear my name being called from a familiar voice. A voice that belongs to a set of lips that sent me home soaking wet a few nights ago.

Which is something I didn’t even know my body could do! I’ve never...you know what? Never mind. If I admit it out loud the mortification from it will flush my face too fast to be acceptable.

“Megan,” my name leaves his lips and instantly the muscles between my legs clench.

Seriously? Now that’s not normal. Even I know that.

“Hey,” I nervously reply adjusting my bag.

“You must be Dean,” Liv coos behind me.

“I am.” He stands proudly, his t-shirt briefly flashing me a hint of his v.

Those things are real? Marcus is slim without much definition, not to mention we don’t...well...we didn’t have sex very often.

“I take it you’ve heard of me?”

“Calm it down lover boy, she only mentioned you a little,” Liv snaps protectively.

“But she mentioned me.” His eyes land on mine. “That’s all that matters to me.”

“Oh you’re cute,” she mutters loudly before nudging me forward.

Don’t encourage her to push me. Hands are not for pushing!

“I think so.” Dean’s hand stretches for mine. “I’m hoping Megan does too.”

“Does too what?” Another male voice pops from behind him.

Immediately Liv points a sharp finger at him on a gasp, “You!”

“Oh shit,” the guy mumbles.

Get the feeling this isn’t gonna be a good moment for anyone?

“You lousy piece of shit,” Liz bites harshly.

“Whoa,” Dean says, his hand still making contact with mine. I let out a small shiver and he gives me a wink.

Damn it. He wasn’t supposed to see that!

“You two know each other?” Dean glances at his friend.

“This is the tool that I got a taste of at that party a couple weekends ago, promised to call, and never did.” Liv snaps. “Come to find out he promised three other girls the same fucking thing.”

“You sound classy,” I sarcastically swoon.

The guy shrugs a shoulder. “When I met you, you had just stopped dancing on a damn table!”

“You smelled like strawberry wine coolers!”

“Must’ve been one of the other four that night!” he chomps back.

Carefully Dean slides us out of the line of fire as the two of them go at it. Using his back to push open the frozen yogurt shop door he says, “Best friend?”

“Yup. You?”

“Yup.”

“Think we should stop them before they get arrested for disturbing the peace?”

“There’s only one thing I wanna do right now.” His tongue wets his lips as his eyes drop to mine. Before I can fathom a comeback he kisses me softly, mouth even more tempting than it was the first time. I invite his tongue to wrap around mine with a simple knocking. A groan comes out of him at the same time I feel my ass bump against one of the tables.

Am I really making out in public? What is this boy doing to me?

Dean pulls his lips back and whispers, “Go out with me again?” Prepared to object, at least until I get my shit out of Marcus’ apartment, or ditch the death target Liv is making me think is planted on my back, I drop my bottom lip, which immediately gets sucked into his mouth. After a short whimper from me he releases. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes...”

“Good.” He lifts my hand to his lips. “Because I realized I spent all night talking about my crazy family and didn’t get to talk about you and yours.”

The fact that I don’t have family any more has me looking away at the menu board over his shoulder.

He knew them as well as I did. He knew the good times. He knew what it was like when I had a loving safe environment like he has now. I can’t talk about them. I won’t.

“Hey.” His hand moves my chin to look at him back in the eyes. “I didn’t mean to be a jerk and so self-centered—”

“You were anything but a jerk,” my correction makes him smirk.

“I promise to redeem myself for my runaway mouth...” He lowers his face to mine again, lips close enough to make me wanna grab him by his t-shirt to pull us together. “By letting it runaway a different way.”

Guys really say shit like that? Holy shit!

His lips prepare to touch mine again when his friend’s voice croaks, “I’m not eating yogurt from here! Not with the ice queen here! I don’t wanna end up permanently stuck in winter like that movie! Let’s go Mr. O!”

Confused I tilt my head. “Mr. O?”

With a pained expression he says, “I’ll explain later. Promise. Dinner tomorrow night?”

“Sounds good.”

Dean starts to slip away but takes two steps back to place another quick kiss on my lips. After it he sighs, “Tomorrow.”

I nod as his friend drags him out at the same time Liv storms over obviously fuming. However the second she takes a moment to look at me she stops and a grin is replaced.

“Holy shit Megan, you’re glowing!”

“I am not.”

Shhh you. I am not!

“You so are...” Giggling she bites her bottom lip briefly. “
This
is how you look when you’re in love.”

“I’m not in love with him.”

“That’s little Dean Cofax—”

“Kellar now.”

“Yeah, the same little boy who you thought you’d spend forever with, all grown up, and all ready to worship you from the way his mouth couldn’t stay closed in your presence. Yeah....you’ve both got a hint of childhood love trying very hard to grow up. Let it.” A small smile comes on my face. “Maybe he’ll kill Marcus and Mario won’t have to go to jail again...”

I chuckle and elbow her before heading to the menu board.

Is it wrong that I hope she’s right? That I hope he’ll fall in love with me the way I once fell for him? The way I am falling for him all over again. No one falls in love this quickly, no matter how many cute texts they’re sent. No matter if he looks at them like they are the only person with a heartbeat that matters. God. Of course it’s wrong to hope she is. I don’t deserve that kind of love. I don’t deserve anything.

Chapter 7

Dean

Asshole called me Mr. O in front of her. Did you see that? Damage control 101 has to happen. She can’t feel like she’s every other girl. Megan could
never
be like every other girl. She never will be that.

Walking through the front door I hear a sound that I’m starting to dread.

“You’ve got to be shitting me Logan!”

Don’t get me wrong. They aren’t picture perfect. They fight. They make up. They fight again, but it’s always clear the love they have for each other. I just...I hate having to hear it some days more than others.

“How is this my fucking fault?”

“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.” I slide into the kitchen dropping my bag next to the bar stool I plop myself on. “Why’s World War Three about to break out in the kitchen?”

“Because your father decided that a press conference is more important than his three year old.”

“Don’t ever say that.” He growls aggressively slamming down his hands on the bar end opposite of her and me.

“What’s wrong?” I cautiously question.

“I have a work function tomorrow night. Your father was supposed to be home with Faith,” she explains eyes still stuck on him. “However he is under the impression his life and his career are the only ones that matter in this family!”

“How was I supposed to know you had something!”

“Pay attention!”

By the tones and language I assume Faith must still be at preschool.

“Pay attention?”

“Mom probably reminded you,” I mumble my two cents.

“Really Kid?” Dad shoots me a glare.

“I’m just sayin’.” I innocently shrug. “Knowing Mom she sent you a text two days ago reminding you.” Quickly he reaches into his pocket and starts scrolling. “Then she probably set a reminder for...let’s see it’s usually about an hour before my day starts, so for you probably 8:50 tomorrow morning.” He briefly looks up and taps a few buttons his shoulders sinking further by the second. “And then of course there’s her magical sticky note board. Speaking of...” I stand and stroll over to it grabbing one of the green sticky notes, scribble quickly on it, and put it on tomorrow.

“How am I supposed to read the Family Feud style board?” He grumbles tossing his phone on the counter, his case dwindling.

“It’s easy. Mom is pink stickies. Little Bit is polka dots. You’re blue and I’m green. Family events are yellow.” I explain. “It’s pretty simple.”

With a heavy sigh he says, “So basically I fucked up?”

“Yes.” Mom snips. “Majorly.”

“Can’t you just reschedule your...whatever it is, you have to do.” His hand motion seems to irk her more.

Not clever on his part.

“Just...reschedule one of the biggest events in town for the night because my dickhead husband couldn’t remember to get his head out of his own ass to take care of the child he wanted? No I don’t think I can do that!” After a huff she says, “And you wonder why I don’t fucking want more kids! You’re not here for the ones you have! You’re not even here for me!”

“One argument at a time!”

“Hey,” I interrupt leaning against the fridge. “Volume. Faith still at school?”

“Yes,” Mom snaps at me. “Because someone was supposed to pick her up on his way home from his late lunch with Jake and instead came home to tell me of an impromptu press conference out of town tomorrow!”

“You forgot to pick up Little Bit?” Turning back to mom I offer, “Want me to grab her?”

“No.” Her arms fold across her chest. “
I
will pick up our daughter now. And
I
will take her to that fucking play birthday party in the morning but
I
will
not
be missing work tomorrow night. Not again.”

“Tony will understand—”

“It’s not about him understanding Logan! For fucks sake be present in someone’s life if not mine at least your daughters.”

He presses his lips firmly together clearly biting back something. “Can’t someone else watch her?”

“It’s not their job for Faith to be pawned off on them!”

“Stop yelling at me,” he frustratingly grumbles gripping the back of his neck. “I know it’s not. But this is an emergency.”

“This is not an emergency. This is piss poor planning on your part.”

“Maxx,” he holds up a hand. “C.J. And Erin?”

“Out of town. Romantic getaway. Must be nice.”

He cringes at her added commentary.

Pretty well played if you ask me. No. Not choosing sides. Not a mama’s boy either.

“Luke and Stuart?”

“Stuart’s got a shoot out in Florida. They’re taking Alex to Disney.”

“Tony is obviously with you and I don’t trust Lex with children alone. What about —”

“They have dinner plans with friends from out of town.”

Dad’s eyes drift to me and I point to the sticky note. “I have a date.”

“With Megan?” Mom’s attitude shifts sweetly.

Happily I nod, “Yeah.”

“I like her,” she softly remarks. “A lot.”

“Kid, can you reschedule your date? I’ll make it up to you. I’ll—”

“No!” Mom shrieks without letting me agree or disagree. “Do you know how many times he’s had to cancel shit to be there for his sister? He’s not her father! You are!”

“Maxx—”

“No!”

“I’ll do it,” I volunteer on a sigh, not sure I can handle hearing this argument continue to run in circles.

Swiftly Mom starts, “Kid—”

“It’s cool. Instead of dinner out, I’ll just have her come over for a movie after Little Bit crashes or something.” Skeptical she gives me a look. “Swear we won’t do anything to wake her up.” When her face threatens to smile at my added comment I push until she does. “We’ll take the couch for a spin instead.”

“Dean Kellar!” She squeaks hitting me in the chest.

Dad clears his throat, “I’ll make it up to you Kid. Promise.”

I nod and mom sighs, “I’m gonna go pick up Little Bit.”

“Maxx—”

“Don’t talk to me.” She points at him. “Just...don’t.”

With her keys in her hand she storms out of the room, slamming the front door upon her exit.

Why is it when chicks get really angry they slam shit? Is that necessary?

“Fuck!” He yells running his hands down his lightly stubbled face.

“Can I say something?” the words cause him to nod at me leaning against the counter once more. “With all due respect Dad, I get why mom’s pissed.”

“So do I.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Why she’s really pissed.”

“What do you mean?”

“Dad, think about it. Mom’s sacrificed job opportunities for you. When you left to fight pro she stayed behind and raised me. After she had Faith she let you travel and gave up more chances to do what she loves to take care of both of us. You work ridiculous hours between the gym and the youth program. She’s always putting this family first and I think she needs you to do it for her. I kinda think she deserves that.”

Slowly he exhales, “You’re right....when the hell did you get that smart?”

“I like to think last summer,” the joke makes him chuckle.

“You’re not that smart.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Between my aunts and uncles and you and Mom, I’m a fucking guru in the love department.”

“Sex and love are two different things Kid,” he clarifies. “And that girl you brought to introduce us to, is the kind who deserves to know that they are. You feel me?”

“Yeah.” I aimlessly nod. “Yeah I do.”

And that’s part of the problem. I haven’t done anything in the love department since I let her move away with my favorite teddy bear. I hope I don’t fuck this up like I know I’ve got a huge chance to.